King appears as surprise guest at sold-out Shakespeare play

King Charles III has appeared arsenic a astonishment impermanent astatine a sold-out show of the Royal Shakespeare Company's (RSC) accumulation of The Tempest.

The monarch was met with cheers from the assemblage arsenic helium arrived astatine the Royal Shakespeare Theatre successful Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire and took his spot successful the packed auditorium.

Backstage, the King toured the company's costume department, describing the pieces arsenic "brilliant" and was seen sharing a laughter portion appreciating a replica crown.

The RSC's co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey called the sojourn from the King "a tremendous honour". The accumulation is directed by Sir Richard Eyre and stars Sir Kenneth Branagh arsenic Prospero.

Harvey, who sat adjacent to the King, said helium seemed similar a "true enthusiast of the theatre" and was "laughing away" during the performance.

"I deliberation helium genuinely enjoyed it," she added.

After the performance, the King, who is simply a patron of the RSC, greeted the formed backstage and was seen chatting with Sir Kenneth and Sir Richard.

The RSC's accumulation of The Tempest marks Sir Kenneth's instrumentality to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre for the archetypal clip successful much than 30 years, and is Sir Richard's debut with the company.